Genesis signifies a stand-alone luxury brand and a separate division of South Korea’s Hyundai Motors officially launched in 2015. Beforehand, the Genesis name graced a rear-wheel drive ultra-premium sedan within the Hyundai brand starting in 2008.
The general population is catching on to Genesis’ stand-alone status as the number of vehicles grows and word of mouth expands about the value Genesis offers when compared to established German and Asian hierarchy. The number of Genesis dealers continues expanding throughout Chicagoland including Genesis of Elmhurst, Genesis of Schaumburg, Genesis of Gurnee and Genesis of Downers Grove.
Total U.S. Genesis sales during the pandemic-laden 2020 calendar year reached 16,384. The best sales year in Genesis’ brief lifespan was 2019, at 21,237 models. With two ultra-posh crossovers now gracing showroom floors, these numbers could easily double.
The first vehicle launching under the new luxury flagship was the full-size 2017 model year G90 sedan. Two smaller four-door models followed shortly in the form of G80 and G70 respectively. The letter “G” denotes the Genesis brand and the higher the numerical suffix, the larger the vehicle.
A highly anticipated crossover launched in the form of a 2021 GV80; with the added ‘V’ indicating a ‘versatile’ five-door body style. A second all-new crossover-bodied model, the 2022 GV70, is our tester this week. Debuting during the summer of 2021, it has the potential to rise above all other Genesis offerings as the division’s best seller. It slots in the highly popular compact crossover category with a comparably lower entry price point and out-of-sight underpinnings shared with the compact G70 sedan.
It’s designed primarily for on-road travel with its car-like unibody design. Heavy off-roading is not recommended, although standard all-wheel drive provides extra wintertime grip. The interior’s quietness works in tandem with impressively smooth handling and sharp steering. It’s up against heavy hitters including the totally redesigned 2022 Lexus NX, benchmark BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.
Two well-tested engine opportunities include a pleasant 2.5-liter turbocharged inline four cylinder cranking out 300 horsepower. Optional, a 3.5-liter V-6 twin turbo blasting out 375 horses. Both recommend premium 91 octane in the 17.4-gallon fuel tank for optimal performance and mate to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Both grace the larger GV80 crossover.
Turbochargers run off of recycled exhaust gases spinning a pinwheel-inspired turbine pumping higher air concentration into the engine resulting in additional horsepower. Twin turbos, employing two smaller yet faster spools, ensure quicker air pressure build-up, goosing up performance, while taming ‘turbo lag,’ a hesitation encountered periodically when aggressively summoning accelerator pedals.
Automatic transmission shifts via an electronic tactile dial between front buckets with R, N and D lettering atop indicating with red backlighting the selected gear. Park activates with the push of a button in the dial’s center. The electronic push start/stop button resides on the dash and far enough right of the steering column to allow direct access by pilots.
Our V-6 tester included a start-stop function to conserve fuel, quieting the engine during prolonged stops. Take the right foot of the brake pedal, and the engine sparks back to attention. A dashboard button deactivates the function if desired. Despite this tweak, V-6 fuel economy disappoints a bit at 19 mpg city and 25 highway.
Starting price of a GV70 ‘standard’ trim (it’s base choice) checks in at a tempting $41,000 for the 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder edition. Available option Packages building upon Standard content include: Select, Advanced and Sport Prestige. The V-6 offers two packages to Standard: Advanced and Sport Prestige.
Our V-6 Standard started at $52,600 before adding the Advanced ($5,000) and Prestige Packages ($4,900). The only a-la-carte option: $1,500 for a Melbourne Grey exterior matte finish brought the bottom line to $65,045 with $1,045 destination charge representing one of the poshest combinations to date.
The can’t-miss matte paint finish certainly whips up a conversation. Rather than a shiny reflective sheen, the grey hue exuded an almost deviant-like flat attitude.
The side character line (or swoosh) starts at the hood/fender seam, traveling across above strap-like door handles terminating while dipping down towards the narrow bi-level wrap-round red tail lamps. At night, side mirror flood lights broadcast the Genesis logo to the pavement below when exiting.
In front, the imposing nose/grille includes diamond-like checkered filling and the pattern continues below highlighting the air dam and lower outside edging. Bi-level bejeweled headlights flank the nose. The winged Genesis logo, resembling a nocturnal bat in flight, adorns the lightweight aluminum hood’s front center. Hood creases at each end of the logo extend vertically towards the windshield.
Below the rear bumper resides two circular inline chrome exhausts, each one hugging the outside edge and flanked by diamond patters also found afront.
Inside, luxury abounds with an uncluttered, smooth soft-touch bi-colored (red/black in our case) dashboard and sizeable, multifunction rectangular 14.5-inch flat-back screen jetting up from the dash making high-tech statement. The top center/right dash top slopes downward meeting up with a narrow, long horizontal strip home to rectangular air vents. Screen interaction utilizes several formats with a touch-sensors present, but its positioning makes it a stretch for drivers and/or shotgun passengers.
The infotainment system takes time to familiarize but its industrial design reflects a commonsense approach. Case in point, it took less than a minute for this self-proclaimed luddite to reprogram the digital clock from eastern time to good-old central time without a print or online instruction manual.
Between bucket seats with suede-like inserts and Napa leather-type bolsters (part of the Prestige Package) expect a busy array, including a large control orb near the slightly smaller transmission dial. This larger dial summons an on-screen indicator. Push the dial to select a screen command. A row of large chrome quick-select tabs along the lower dash quickly selects such categories as ‘map,’ ‘navigation,’ ‘radio’ and ‘media’. No conventional twist dials exist for on/off, volume control or station selection. Instead, two chrome thumb scrolls between buckets handle these duties in addition to secondary steering wheel controls.
Another tab ahead selects through a number of available drive modes (eco, comfort, custom, sport and sport plus). A half-moon alcove houses a three-dimensional animated instrument panel (part of the Sport Prestige Package) with two circular orbs and square digital message center between. The orbs also serve a as motion picture outlet, as sideview mirror mounted cameras serve up live feeds of side blind spot activity when summoning the turn signal (an Advanced Package option).
Headroom rates above average in front and back while. An all-wheel drive vertical floor hump divides row two into even pods while cozy leg room gets extra inches via scooped/concaved inward front seat backs. Seatbacks fold down with a 70/30 split growing cargo capacity to 56.9 cubic from 28.9, about average for the class. Rear riders have access to air vents USB ports and seats that not only heat, but also recline a few inches for increased comfort.
Below the screen, the HVAC system comprises of two dials with the temperature digitally tallied inside the orb. Touch sensors monitor fan speed and direction within a graphic layout. Narrow red pen lighting surrounds the system in an oval pattern which pauses at the steering column only to continue on the other side to encompass hill-decent control, stop/start engine deactivation and traction control deactivation. This stream of ambient light also illuminates doors and the control region between front buckets.
Another common thread Genesis shares with its parent Hyundai; a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, one of the longest in duration. This simple, easy-to-remember marketing mantra helped revive Hyundai’s U.S. sales in the mid-1990s and can’t hurt efforts at Genesis as the brand searches for increased name recognition within the minds of consumers.
In addition to an industry leading powertrain warranty, a valet service picks up and returns GV80 during scheduled maintenance appointments (such as oil changes) offering a complimentary courtesy vehicle if desired during the first three years/36,000 miles of ownership. Also included at no charge; five years of complimentary roadside assistance.
2022 Genesis GV70
Price as tested: $65,045
Engine: 3.5-liter turbo V-6
Horsepower: 375
Wheelbase: 113.2 inches
Overall Length: 185.6 inches
Overall Width: 75.2 inches
Overall Height: 64.2 inches
Fuel Economy: 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway
Curb weight: 4,156 pounds
Powertrain Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
Assembly: Ulsan, South Korea